7.5

Ah the lovely day after the 4th. I woke up alert today despite the 5 hours of sleep. No bad bug bites.

(Skip breakfast... I mean I ate... just.... anyway.)

We went out today in pairs/trios to do different types of studies on the corals. Natalie and I first did the 10 minute 1 meter by 1 meter watch. She took pictures while I recorded on a dive slate. After that, we followed a little blue tang fish around for ten minutes and watched him eat. I was able to swim with the huge fish again under the dock, and we were messing around and saw an OCTOPUS. A HUGE ONE. He clearly didn't fit in the crevace like he wanted. At first we thought he was a huge snail, and then I saw his big eyes and suctions and called Natalie back over. He was so cool! It's definitely something I hope I never forget.

(Skip lunch)

We had free work time, so I went up and took a shower in the daylight for the first time in a while. (After much anger at the water in cabin 8's shower which was so hot I was so unhappy I couldn't even touch it.) Then I've been here, at the computer, working on the Species Identification powerpoint of mine (now a lovely green and closed and done!) and attempting not to pass out next to Codee. (who braided my clean hair all nice)

At dinner, Austin and I thought it would be a good idea to pour hot sauce on our food. Of course it was super spicy hot sauce and we both were dying, but continued to eat because we had to eat something. So we both died for a while. My tongue was on fire and my lips went numb. But after a little bit more work it was alright. Then Natalie and I went back up to the room and worked more on our poster project we did today using focal species and focal area. 

Now I'm exhausted, and I need to sleep.

-- 

Olivia Van Housen

Sampling Activities

To date we have been introduced to four different sampling techniques. We were sent into the field with appropriate equipment for about an hour to complete each exercise. On July 1, 2015 our seven student group completed the point quarter transect and the regular transect on two separate expeditions.  The point quarter transect involved choosing and marking ten points two meters apart from one another. After the points had been flagged, photos were to be taken in four quadrants around each point one meter from the flag. In the regular transect at least five points were to be marked one meter apart in a straight line. In both transect exercises photos were taken of the points and students were to identify the species of coral in the area. The data was later transferred to an excel spread sheet and the percent coverage of coral was analyzed. On July 4, 2015 we worked on another type of sampling called grid sampling. This time we were to flag off a 5 meter by 5 meter square in the same location we did the transect. We were to visualize this sectioned off square as a grid with 1 meter by 1 meter sections. To start the sampling we were to pick three coordinates and take a photo in each of the sections. Our group chose (1,1), (3,3) and (5,5). This information was transferred to an excel spread sheet and the percent coverage of coral was analyzed. On July 5, 2015 we conducted focal area and focal animal sampling. Our three person group worked on the focal area sampling first. In this type of sampling researchers are to watch a single area 1 meter by 1 meter and observe the organisms that come in and out of the area. The species name, movement, and behavior was recorded for later analysis. To conduct the focal animal sampling a single animal is monitored and its behavior is recorded. Both samplings were conducted for a predetermined period of ten minutes. The information observed was used to create a poster that will be presented later on today.

Day 7: July 5

We went snorkeling this morning at 1030. In partner groups we were to do focal species and focal area field study techniques. I was grouped with Olivia. The focal species is where you choose a species to follow for ten minutes. You observe it and take pictures of it. We followed a Blue Tang fish. At first I was nervous that we would easily lose it or scare it off but it was a generally calm and easy animal to follow. He mostly fed on plants and corals and hid under rocks and swam around. It was fun. Next was the focal area. That is where you pick a small area, about 1m by 1m, and observe the habitat for ten minutes. I took pictures and Olivia wrote notes on a dive slate. The observations have been recorded on a poster like PowerPoint that we will present to the group tomorrow. In the afternoon we had time to work on our various assignments. Upcoming we have due our second essay which is to compare sponges and Portuguese Man O’ War on why sponges are animals and Portuguese Man O’ War are colonies. Also, we had to make a poster on our observations from todays field study. Also, we have to work on our newest transect and analyze the coverage in our groups. Lastly, we have to finish our species identification assignment. It was a full day of work, but I have everything under control and it feels good.

We found an octopus today after we finished our focal work!

Day 6: July 4

In the afternoon we practiced a new field study technique called sampling. We placed flags on four corners of a 5m by 5m grid. Before we got out to the reef we decided on coordinates that we would use to take pictures of; rows and columns, each row/column being 1 m. We we got out there, we measured and took pictures of the spot. We will then analyze the photos for percent coverage of coral and compare them to our transect results to see how accurate/precise the two techniques are to each other.

After that, we got out hermit crab assignment. Each room is given 50 hermit crab shells. We are to label them based on room, number and year (the 15th shell is T1515, we are room T for top of the hill...), and we will place the shells near our rooms tonight and see where they end up in three days time. I am excited to interact with hermit crabs in a scientific sense and I have only played with them as domesticated animals. We also have to measure the length and width of the shell and aperture (opening) so we can later compare that data with the shells that the crabs discard.

our shells all lined up to be measured

Tarantula in our room

Climbed up into the rafters to see if I could find anything funky, and this "little" guy started moving about. A Honduran curlyhair tarantula.

-Thomas Chaffee

7-05-2015

This morning we went out and hunted for photos for crustaceans and fish. Of course, I was super excited to just be out in the field observing stuff. Still, the parrot fish are my favorite, so (obviously) I swam after a few of them trying to get the best "glamour shot." We went out for an hour, and then Natalie and I saw everyone else heading in. Naturally, we kept at it in stride to the other side of the dock to look for more crustaceans. SO MANY LOBSTERS. I mean... three isn't considered "many" but it's ok. (Some were just dead and cooked lobster heads.) After a lot of salt water and diving down to creep on unsuspecting urchins, we finally went inside.

(Skip lunch and hour break furiously moving 250 photos into their respective places.)

This afternoon we went out and looked for mollusks and plants to the right of the dock. Because Natalie and I had already been out there, I was able to recognise certain corals as ones I saw on the first excursion. I worked on trying to perfect my photography, and found a really odd worm. Later I will identify it... probably. 

After most of the group went inside, I still (ignoring the toe blisters from the fins) went hunting and went under the dock. It was amazing! I saw a (father) seahorse hanging on to a palm fronth and I swam with hundreds of little tiny fish. It was one of the most epic experiences I've ever had. 

-Olivia Van Housen 

7.3.15

7/1/15 - Coconut Party

Coconut Room Service from the nicest native around. This man looks to be in his sixties and yet he can scale a coconut palm tree effortlessly. I want to be able to do this someday!